'Substantial' Additional Funding Secured For An Garda Síochána

The government has approved "substantial" additional funding for An Garda Síochána, Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald has announced.

An additional allocation of €55 million will be made available for the remainder of 2016 including €5m previously announced in February. This funding is made up of €40 million additional Exchequer funding plus €15 million to be funded from projected savings based on analysis of expenditure trends elsewhere in the Justice and Equality sector.

The Tánaiste said: "The Government has consistently made clear that we would fund whatever measures were needed for An Garda Síochána to best tackle the critical and unprecedented challenges they currently face. I am grateful for the support of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and my Government colleagues for this additional funding.

These additional monies are made available based on information from Garda management regarding the level of funding required to maintain the necessary policing response to the current situation on an ongoing basis. This will allow for:

• Concentrated policing targeting gang related crime

• The continued intensive and strategic targeting of burglaries and related crime through ongoing support for Operation Thor

• Continued support for measures against terrorism

"Nobody is above the law. We have shown that in the past and we will show it again. This decision ensures the Gardaí have the necessary resources to face down the appalling and ruthless cycle of violence caused by organised crime and continue the successful crackdown on rural crime and burglaries," the Tánaiste added.

"We are also committed to bringing the strength of An Garda Síochána to 15,000; the number of civilian staff will be increased and we are providing some €46 million for the Garda fleet and an additional €205 million for much needed ICT. These investments will ensure An Garda Síochána is resourced and supported both now and into the future."

(MH)